Chapter 5
FIVE
Marchello
Being in cartel territory put me on edge.
We hadn’t met with a representative since arriving late last night. Instead, they put us up in the most expensive suite they had with private beach access and our own pool. They even provided us with extra security.
I wasn’t impressed. Those men were in place to watch us, not protect us. The sooner we got this meeting over with, the faster we could get home and back to business.
As I stepped onto the terrace that overlooked the sparkling blue pool, the thick humidity in the air hit me. The late afternoon thunderstorm was long gone, but the suffocating aftereffect still lingered. Perhaps my mood was choking me. I wanted to get this over with.
“I’m ready,” Lissia said from behind me.
I turned to find her standing in the doorway, and if the evening air hadn’t already taken my breath away, she definitely would have.
I hurried back inside and closed the terrace doors, taking in her evening attire. A tight-fitting black dress stopped just above her knees and hugged her curves. The slit on the side rose high enough to almost expose her upper thigh.
She had blown out her hair, leaving it long and sleek as it cascaded down her back. Her makeup was flawless, and even if her black eyeliner was darker than I preferred, it was quite alluring. I hadn’t seen her wear this much makeup since the night of the auction.
“You look amazing.” I ran my gaze along her body, stopping when I got to the open-toed silver stilettos. “Stunning.”
“Thank you.” She twirled so I could get a full view of the dress.
I bit my lip as I shook my head. I’d have to keep a close eye on her tonight and make sure every guy knew she was with me.
“No tie?” She draped her hands over my shoulders and pressed her lips to my neck. “That’s sexy. Very sexy.”
“It’s too hot for a tie,” I said. “I’m not used to this weather in November.”
“We’re in Miami.” She laughed. “But I guess it is a bit unseasonable even for here.”
“Remember, tonight is just an opportunity to meet my associates. They want to get a feel for who I am.”
“The meeting is tomorrow,” she said. “Milo told me.”
“When you were entertaining my brother this afternoon in that ridiculously skimpy bikini?”
“Why are you so jealous of my relationship with Milo?” She removed her arms and turned her back to me. “It’s silly.”
“You have a relationship with my brother?”
“I had a relationship with Milo before I had one with you.” She smoothed out her hair as she looked in the mirror. “He was much easier to manage.”
“I have to be alert tonight.” I turned her to face me, keeping her wrist in my hand. “You can’t make me lose concentration.”
“How would I do that?”
“You don’t need me to tell you.” I pushed her against the wall. “You find ways all on your own.”
“I know how important this trip is for you. I won’t do anything to put you at risk.”
“Your job is to be arm candy.”
She was so much more than that to me, but I had to give her a purpose if I wanted her to behave.
“These men we’re meeting with don’t tolerate disobedience, especially when it comes to their women. As I told you before, if you think I’m barbaric, wait until you meet them.”
“You’re all a bunch of cavemen.” She rolled her eyes. “None of you know what year it is.”
“A caveman who can afford to buy you that Valentino dress you’re wearing and anything else your spoiled little heart desires.”
“Maybe my heart desires more than material things.”
I caressed her cheek. “Get me through tonight without any problems, then maybe we can talk about those other desires.”
She wasn’t talking about physical desires, but eventually, I would have to admit that I had developed feelings for her despite how deadly those emotions could be.
“I’ll do whatever you need.” She took my hand. “I won’t leave your side.”
“Thank you.” I kissed her knuckles. “Let’s go meet them. Milo and Lucas are already there.”
Once we left our suite, Dom and Randy, my two top security guys, followed behind us.
“Hello, boys.” Lissia smiled at them but neither said anything. As we walked down a secluded hallway, she whispered, “Your staff can be rude.”
“They’re not rude. They’re just focused on their job.” I placed my hand on the small of her back and guided her through a set of double doors. “Plus, they’re trying to stay alive.”
“How could saying hello to me jeopardize their lives?”
“They know what happened with Ricardo. And I won’t tolerate any more fuck ups when it comes to you.” I put my arm around her waist. “Not from them and not from you.”
Dom opened the door for us once we approached the private lounge we were meeting in.
“Stay by the door,” I instructed them. “Milo’s guys are on the other side.”
They both nodded as we entered the dimly lit room. A piano player on the far side of the room entertained with soft music, and a large hand-carved bar stood in the middle of the room. Bottles of alcohol and expensive crystal glasses were stacked strategically on the shelves behind it.
Across the room, four men sat at a table by the doors that opened to the outside. Part of the security team, maybe. At the bar, Milo and Lucas met with two men who I recognized as Lorenzo Garcia, the cartel contact, and his right-hand man Mateo Blanco.
“Chello.” Milo waved me over. “Join us.”
“Are you ready?” I asked Lissia as we got closer to the bar.
“Those men,” she said. “I?—”
“Don’t worry about them.” I pulled her close to me. “Just stay by my side and let me handle them.”
The four of them stood as we approached. Just as Lorenzo was about to shake my hand, he focused on Lissia and smiled.
“Lorenzo.” She laughed. “Is that you?”
“Lissia.” He took her hand and guided her away from me, bringing her into a tight hug.
What the fuck?
Milo shrugged, and Lucas shook his head.
“Can you get my brother a double shot of vodka, please,” Milo said to the bartender. “It’s going to be a long night.”
“What are you doing here?” Lorenzo asked Lissia.
“I’m with Marchello.” She let go of him and came to stand back next to me. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m with Marchello too.” Lorenzo looked at me and extended his hand. “You’re quite popular. It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“Likewise.” I shook his hand.
“Lissia.” Lorenzo leaned against the bar. “It’s been a while”
“How exactly do you two know one another?” Milo asked.
“I spent many summers in Argentina with Lorenzo and Mateo.” Lissia leaned in and gave Mateo a kiss on the cheek. “How are you?”
“I’m well.” The brute put his arm around my girl. “It’s been too long.”
“I knew you were bringing a companion, Marchello, but I had no idea it was Gian’s daughter.” Mateo sipped his drink. “It’s usually hard to surprise me, but this is pretty shocking.”
“There was an interesting turn of events, which is how I ended up intercepting your shipment.” I glanced at Lissia who was now telling the bartender what she wanted to drink. “That was never my intention.”
“I see.” Lorenzo glanced at Mateo. “I knew Gian was having trouble in his organization, but I didn’t know what the problem was.”
“It’s me.” Lissia raised her flute full of prosecco. “I’m the problem.”
“Why am I not surprised?” Lorenzo stared at her longer than I would have liked. “You were always getting into trouble when you were younger. Running around causing mischief.”
“I’d like to say I’ve outgrown that but…” She sipped her drink and then smirked at me. “I can’t.”
Lorenzo and Mateo hung on Lissia’s every word while Lucas and my brother stayed in the background and watched the story unfold.
“As I said.” I lifted my glass from the bar. “Things got complicated, but we’re back on track, and we’re grateful for this opportunity to set things right with your organization.”
“We can discuss business tomorrow.” Lorenzo inched closer to Lissia. “Tonight, I’d like to get to know you and your associates a little better, and I’d love to get reacquainted with my old friend. We have so many memories of our adventure-filled childhood.”
“I can’t wait to hear all about it.” I tightened my fingers around my glass.
“But first,” Lorenzo said, “I’d like to know how Lissia ended up in the middle of all this.”
Before I could formulate the appropriate explanation, Lissia stepped in between me and Lorenzo.
“My father promised me to Danny Collins without my consent. Can you believe that? An arranged marriage?” She gazed into my eyes, then glanced back at her two attentive admirers. “As if. Do I strike you as the type of woman who would agree to something like that?”
Fuck.
“Anyone who knows you should know you wouldn’t,” Mateo said. “What was your father thinking?”
“Right?” She patted my chest. “If it weren’t for Marchello, I would be in absolute hell.”
“Collins let you walk away with his intended bride?” Lorenzo asked me. “This war I’m caught in the middle of is because you took Lissia from him?”
“We’re sorry that you got thrown into all of this,” I said. “That’s why we’re here. We want to make it right.”
“I want Danny out of our lives.” Lissia set her glass on the bar. “Can you believe he held me hostage in a gross cabin last week? He even knocked me out.” She pointed to her fading bruise. “He did this. I tried to cover it with makeup but it looks terrible.”
Why is she talking?
“What?” Lorenzo glared at me. “Is this true?”
“I told you it was complicated, but I’m working it out.” I tried to control the twitching in my palm, but all I could think about was throwing Lissia over my knee and making her shut up. “You’re the first step, but I will handle Collins.”
Lissia nodded toward the table of men in the corner. “Is that your dad’s guard? Anton?”
“Do you remember him? I’m sure he’d love to say hello to you.” Lorenzo turned to me. “Would it be okay if Mateo and I took Lissia over to say hello?”
Not at all. But what am I going to do? Alienate a possible ally? “Of course.”
“I’ll be right back.” Lissia kissed my cheek. “Can you believe I know these guys?”
As she hurried off to greet another old friend, I chugged my vodka.
“Can my brother get another one?” Milo pointed to my glass. “I need you to control your trigger finger. We cannot take out a cartel member in his hotel.”
“You don’t think so?” I glared at him before returning my attention to Lissia who had captivated six brutal, merciless men in a matter of two minutes.
“Settle down,” Lucas said. “This could work to our advantage.”
“I’m not using Lissia as bait.” I kept my eyes on her, trying to swallow my rage over the way these men responded to her.
Why is she such a danger magnet?
“She’s doing that all by herself.” Milo laughed. “They love her.”
“I don’t need them to love her.” I took a sip of my drink, keeping a watchful eye on the woman who had inadvertently sabotaged my business trip. “I need them to work with us.”
“Milo is right,” Lucas said. “Lissia seems to have eased the tension. They don’t trust us. I could see that as soon as we came into the room, but then you and Lissia appeared and the whole atmosphere changed.”
“Chello, we need to use that to our advantage.” Milo finished his drink. “Our options are limited.”
Lissia shot me a seductive grin from across the room. It was almost as if she knew what she was doing, but I knew better. She was far too impulsive to understand that these men required a certain set of tactics. I never banked on her being one of those tactics.
As the night went on, the top-shelf alcohol and five-star food flowed, but business discussions were off-limits. Lorenzo and Lissia told stories of their adventures in Argentina as young teenagers.
She spoke with animated hands and an expressive tone, mesmerizing everyone in the room. It didn’t bother her that she was the only woman in the presence of killers. She held court and captivated all of them, including me.
I did what Milo said and used Lissia to our advantage, but even I had a breaking point.
“Lorenzo was my first kiss,” Lissia admitted. “Do you remember?”
Consider my point broken.
“How could I forget?” Lorenzo asked. “If I remember correctly, Mateo was your second kiss.”
“The next night.” Mateo set his empty glass down on the table. “It must have been the Argentina wine you drank when your father wasn’t looking.”
“I think it had more to do with me being young and on an adventure.” She tucked her hair behind her ear and smiled at me. “I love a good adventure. Don’t you?”
“Are you on an adventure now?” Lorenzo glanced at me. “I can’t imagine your father approves.”
“He doesn’t.” I took her hand. “That’s what drew Lissia to me in the first place.”
“Marchello tried to get me to stay away from him.” She bit her lip. “But I wouldn’t listen.”
I’m glad you didn’t listen.
“It’s been a wonderful evening.” Lorenzo glanced at his watch. “We’re heading down to the club if you’d like to join us.”
“Thank you, but Lissia and I have to decline.” I gazed into her eyes. “We’ve had a long day.”
“I understand.” Lorenzo turned to Milo and Lucas. “Will you join us?”
“Sure,” Milo said. “It’s still early.”
“Marchello.” Lorenzo stood. “It’s been a pleasure getting to know you tonight. I was skeptical of agreeing to a meeting with a man who interfered with my business, but you have friends in high places.”
“I only want a chance to make things right.” I got up from my seat. “I appreciate you taking the time to meet with us.”
“I don’t think we’re going to need that meeting after all.” Lorenzo looked at Mateo. “I’ve made my decision.”
“You haven’t given Marchello an opportunity to explain,” Lissia said.
When I glanced in her direction, she looked down at the table. I didn’t need her help.
“Mr. Garcia,” Lucas intervened. “As we explained, the interception of that shipment was not personal. If you give us the opportunity, the Accetti family will make it right.”
I gripped the back of Lissia’s chair, stopping the urge to reach for my gun. I had watched this man fall all over my girl all night long, and now he wasn’t going to give me the courtesy of a thirty-minute meeting?
Tick. Tick. Tick.
Milo inched closer to me, anticipating my impending explosion.
“I’m going to give you the opportunity to make it right,” Lorenzo said. “I shouldn’t even be entertaining it. If you were anyone else, I wouldn’t have extended the invitation for you to come here and take up my valuable time, but I respect your father and the cartel he associates with.”
“I realize how important your time is,” I said. “I also understand how inconvenient it was for you to lose that shipment.”
The one I still had and was ready to hand over in negotiations. But he didn’t know that.
Lorenzo looked at Lissia. “I’ll be honest, it’s my soft spot for your woman that made my decision.”
Lissia smiled at him.
“Call me a romantic.” Lorenzo shrugged. “We can negotiate terms tomorrow after the alcohol has worn off, but I’m willing to work with you.”
“Thank you.” I extended my hand. “We’ll make your decision a profitable one.”
“I’m counting on that. Enjoy your night, Marchello.” He shook my hand, then winked at Lissia. “You’re a lucky man.”
Lorenzo and his men went back to the table in the corner.
“Thank you, beautiful.” Milo tugged Lissia out of the chair and kissed her cheek. “You’re our lucky charm.”
“I didn’t do anything.” She looked up at me through her long lashes. “But I’m happy I could help.”
Why is she so obsessed with helping me?
“Lucas and I are going to find our own lucky charms.” Milo smirked.
“I’m married, remember?” Lucas shook his head. “But I will keep an eye on you.”
“Thank you,” I said. “Take the team with you.”
“Will do, boss.” Milo finished his drink and set the glass on the table. “You two behave.”
I took Lissia’s hand and motioned for Dom and Randy to escort us back to our suite.
“I think that was a really successful evening, don’t you?” Lissia hurried to keep up with me in her stilettos. “I mean, of all the cartels you could have gotten involved with, it would be the one that I knew. Well, I didn’t know Lorenzo was in a cartel, but I figured his family was shady because they knew my family.”
As we approached the suite door, my strides got longer. I needed to be alone with her.
The guards took their posts outside the door, where they would remain until the next shift came to relieve them. Milo had the security plan down to a science.
I pressed the keycard against the door, and when it opened, I guided Lissia inside, shutting it behind us.
“What a crazy night.” She twisted the ends of her hair.
“Be quiet.”
I advanced on her, and she stumbled back. Good instincts.
“You went rogue on me.” I unbuckled my belt and pulled the leather through the loops. “You shouldn’t have done that.”